The iconic Joker’s Wild casino is undergoing significant changes as Boyd Gaming plans to replace it with the new Cadence Crossing. John Anderson, a customer of Joker’s Wild, expressed mixed feelings about the development. “They could use a new casino. It is a little rundown,” he said, adding, “I hope they do not change who they are. They are very, very friendly there as opposed to some other places.”
Boyd Gaming is not only closing Joker’s Wild but also Eastside Cannery, while rival Station Casinos expands its properties. Boyd competing both with Station and several smaller casinos along Boulder Highway. Jeremy Aguero, principal analyst at Applied Analysis, noted, “What you are seeing is additional development, new development, new investment and that has the tendency to outperform the existing competitors.”
Cadence master-planned community is also seeing growth, with nearly 180 homes on the market and several apartments for rent under construction as well. Aguero described it as “one of the most dynamic corridors that we are seeing in terms of development and investment and families and individuals moving in.”
However, some residents are concerned about the rapid development. A Cadence resident mentioned, “It is difficult getting out of work at the end of the day,” due to traffic congestion on Boulder Highway. They hope for improvements to traffic flow and pedestrian safety.
Anderson echoed these concerns, saying, “Traffic is so bad and the roads are generally under construction and they seem like they do those same roads over and over.”
Beyond economic goals, there is a push to improve the area’s reputation. Prof. Michael Green, chair of the UNLV Department of History, noted, “Through time, what we have seen is that Boulder Highway has become, in some ways, a dividing line, in some ways a symbol of the differences between old Henderson and new Henderson.” Green believes that successful development could lead to further growth, stating, “If you have this development, then that can breed other development.”
For more on the area’s economic development, click here.
